Gauge construction



July 12, 1938.

H. HASTINGS Er AL GAUGE CONSTRUCTION Filed June 11, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS j z erzerzfifis $207962] 0' r0 I g July 12, 1938. H. HASTINGS El AL 2,123,532

GAUGE CONSTRUCTION Filed June 11. 1956' s Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS .flferaerf "7462 ATTORNEYS July 12, 1938. H. HASTINGS ET AL 2,123,532

GAUGE CONSTRUCTION Fil e d June 11, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Geofye. 2:75P, Wwifiwd el? ATTORNEYS rZer 1 5 Patented 12, 1938 2.12am I canoe ooas'raoc'rjion V pm Hastings, Brighton. and-George 1:. Ion],

Rochester, N.; Y., assignors to Rochester Manufacturing 00.. Inc, Rochester, N. Y., a corporatlon of New York Application June 11. 193s, sen No. 84.682 10 Claims. (01. 73-110) This invention relates to a gauge, and more particularly to a pressure gauge, althoughmany features of the invention are applicable also to gauges of other types.

5 An object of the invention is the provision of a generally improved and more satisfactory gauge construction.

Another object is the provision of a gauge which may be constructed economically and 10 quickly, which has few parts. and which is reliable in operation. v

A further object is .the provision of an improved diaphragm construction, and of improved means for holding the diaplnagm in place.

if; A still further object is the provision of a simplifled construction for mounting a needle or pointer, and one which is particularly adapted to a needle or pointer mounted for movement about an axis concentric with the dial of the casing.

To these and other ends the invention-resides in certain improvements and combinations of parts, all as will be hereinafter more fully described, the novel features being pointed out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings: I

Figure 1 is a front view of a gauge constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention;

Figure 2 is a front view of the-gauge on a larger scale with the bezel and glass removed, and with parts of the dial broken away to show the construction beneath.

. Figure 3 is an elevation of.a fragment of the gauge dial.

3', Figure 4 is a vertical section through the gauge,

the section being taken substantially on the line 4-4 of Figure 2. l

Figure 5 is a view similar to a fragmentof Fig.

4 illustrating one form of bezel construction on a -10 larger scale than Fig. 4.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing a modified form of bezel construction for use on a gauge of the ilange type.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view showing a modi- -i5 fication of the needle mounting arrangement 01" Figure 8 is a section through the gauge in a plane at right angles to the plane of Fig. 4.

' Figure 9 is an edge viewer the dial and needle 50 assembly removed from the casing.

Figure;10 is a section taken substantially on the line lill of Fig. 4. v I

Figure 11 is a view similar to a fragment of Fig. 10 with parts removed to show the construction 55 beneath.

Figure 12 isa sectionthrough the rear end of the gauge showing a preferred form of construction of diaphragm means and holdingv means. therefor.

Figurev 13 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the method of making the construction shown in Fig. 12.

Figure 14 is a view similar to a'fragment of Fig. 12 showing one modified construction of the diaphragm means.

Figure 15 is a view similar to Fig. 14 showing another modifledconstruction of the diaphragm means. I

The same reference numerals throughout the several views indicate the same parts. 1 The gauge, in itspreferred form. includes a casing having a main cylindrical portion 30,- which 'contains the principal'operating .parts of the gauge. At the rearend of this portion 10 is an annular inwardly extending wall 3| connected to the forward edge of another cylindrical wall portion 32, of smaller diameter. and shallower than the portion 30. This cylindrical wall portion 32 is adapted to receive the pressure responsive diaphragm means. At the rear edge of the portion'32 is an inwardly extending flange or wall 33 merging into a stem portion 34 which may be threaded internally or externally as desired, for connection to aconduit, tank or other suitable article subject to the pressure which the gauge is intended to indicate.

Within the main chamber formed by the cylindrical-wall 30' is a-mounting plate 40 held in place by suitable means suchas the studs 4| passing through the plate and integral with the rear wall 3| of the chamber. Struck-up portions 42 of the mounting plate form journals or bearings for .a shaft 43 which extends approximately diametricallywitlr relation to the casing 30,'as shown in Figs. 10 and 11. Near its middle, the shaft 43 is 40 bent to providea crank portion 44 which overlies a stud 45 mounted on the pressure responsive diaphragm, which will be described in greater.

' detail below.

"I'he crank 4'! lies against one side of and transmits its movements to an 'arm 48 which is formed as an extension of one arm. of a generally U- shaped member 49 loosely pivoted on a bearing pin ilsecured to the plate It. The other arm of this U-shaped member 49 is extended at I in a general direction toward the center of the cascrank 44, but also because of the further enlal'8-' ing effect due to the distance of the gear seg-v ment 52 from the pivot ill with relation to the distance of the arm I from the pivot 50.

At suitable spaced points around the circumference of the cylindrical casing portion I0, cuts are made in the wall 30 and portions of the wall are forced inwardly as indicated at Gil, to form ledges or seats on which the dial plate may rest. Three such ledges 60, spaced equally around the circumference of the casing are usually sufficient. The dial plate 6| is made of a diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the casing portion 30, as shown especially in Fig. 2, except that at two points, approximately on a diameter at right angles to that passing through the pin 50, the dial plate is provided with small points forming extensions or tits .2. The extreme distance from the end of one of these tits .2 to the end of the other is very slightly greater than the internal diameter of the casing portion II, but the tits 62 are of such small size that they are sufilciently flexibleso that air-the dial plate II is forced axially into the casing the tits will be readily bent over from theirinitial fiat condition indicated in Fig. 3 to the bent condition indicated in Figs. 2 and 8, in which they make tight contact with the inner surface of the casing wall 30.

m the center of the dial plate a bushing u in the form of a hollow rivet extends through the plate and serves to connect the plate firmly to a U-shaped bracket 61. The needle shaft 8' extends through the bushing or hollow rivet and is Journaled therein near its forward end, the rear end of the shaft being iournaled in the bracket 4 81 as readily seen from Fig. 4. The front end of the shaft 60 -carries the needle or pointer 09. A pinion I. fixed to the shaft Cl behind the bushing 06 meshes with the gear segment 52, while behind the pinion II is a coiled hair spring I'l having one end secured to a hub or collar on the shaft 60, and having its other end secured at 12 to the bracket 61. This hair spring ll constantly tends, with a very slight force, to rotate the needle in one direction, thus taking up backlash between the pinion II and the gear segment I2, and holding the crank 4 always against the stud l5.

It is seen that the needle, the needle shaft. the pinion and the hair spring allform a single unitary assembly mounted on and carried by the dial plate 6|, this assembly being shown by itself in Pig. 9. It is easy to mount this assembly in the casing, as it is simply necessary to move the dial plate assembly axially into the casing with the hole in the dial plate alined with the pin 60 so that the pin will enter the hole. The ears or tits 62 bend up or forwardly as the dial plate a,1as,ssa

is shoved rearwardly into the The 'position of the pin II in the hole .4 of the dial-plate properly alines the dial plate in a circumferential direction so that the dial plate cannot be placed in an improper circumferential position.

This form of mounting is particularly advantageous in cases where the distance of the pin II from the central axis of the gauge casing is likely to vary a little bit due to inaccuracies of manufacture. If thenee'die shaft '1 and pinion II were always mounted exactly at the axial center of the casing, it is apparent that a variation of the pin lill farther from or closer toward the center 'would result in too loose or too tight meshing of the gear segment 52 with the pinion .10. With the present form of mounting, howi ever, the position of the needle shaft it and pinion II is made dependent upon the position of the pin Ill, so that wherever this pin may be located, whether a little too far or a littletoo 88 will nevertheless always be at exactly the right distance from the pin 80, and the pinion ll will always mesh to exactly the right extent with the teeth of the gear segment I. Since the ears or tits '2 on the dial plate are provided on a diameter substantially perpendicular to the diameter passing through the pin ll, they do not prevent slight movement of the dial plate ii in a direction along the diameter passing through the pin l0, and since the dial plate I is of slightly smaller diameter than the casing 80, it may move somewhat along the diameter passing through the pin it ss may be required in order to position the hole .4 of the dial plate properly on the pin II if this pin is not exactly in its intended position.

The dial plate carries, of course, suitable'graduations reading in pounds per square inch, or any other desired units of measurements, the scale being graduated concentric with the shaft I and, therefore, substantially concentrlcwith the casing ll. Such graduations are shown diagrammatically at II in Figs. 1 and 2.

In front of the dial plate II and the needle 80. is a transparent plate 00, of glass or other suitable material, the periphery of which may rest upon the front edge of the casing portion 8.. The glass may be held in place by a bezel having a cylindrical portion ll fitting over and surrounding the casing portion SI and forming a tight press fit therewith if desired, the bezel also having an annular inwardly extending. portion overlying the periphery of' the glass II and serving to retain a washer or gasket 0! in place. Preferably the annular portion of the bezel is shaped as best shown in Fig. 5. having a convex ridge ll near its outer edge, and then a concave or depressed portion I. inwardly of the portion II, and then another convex portion l'l terminating in an edge It, as shown. The innermost inclined wall or side of the convex portion ll prevents the gasket II from squeezing out between the bezel and the glass in a direction toward the center of the gauge, while the depressed portion ll produces a firm pressure upon an intermediate part of the gasket '2, thus pressing this part of the gasket firmly against the glass II. but the relieved portion I! does not press to any great extent upon the gasket, and thus the gasket is not tightly compressed at a point which is likely to extrude the gasket between the bezel and the glass. A second gasket I is preferably placed beneath the glass II, and a sleeve or spacing ring ll holds the gasket II, in place and also 'close to the axial center of the gauge, the shaft amass:

maintains the am plate u properly seated against the abutments II.

The gallae above described has what may be termed a plain cylindrical outer edge. Sometimes it is desind to-provide gauges of the flanged type;

.- with outwardly extending annular flanges on their-outer edges so that such gauges may be mounted on an instrument board. The same improved principles of construction of the beael may be employed on a flanged gauge, as shown in 1"ig. 6. Here, the casing part IIa has an outwardly extending flange IIb. 'lhe dial plate is indicated at Ila and the glass at Ila. The bezel Ila has its outer edge turned rearwardly around and embracing the flange III: of the gauge casing, thin holding the bezel immovably'to the easing. As before, there is a gasket Ila, and the beael has a depression IIo overlying an intermediate. portion of the width of the gasket to press this part of the gasket flrmly toward the glass Na, and also has a convex portion or bulge Ila near its inner edge terminating at the inner edge I841. The convex portion Ila receives the inner edge of the gasket I2a without pressing it so tightly as to cause it to extrude between the bezel and the glass. A second gasket Ila and a sleeve or spacing ring Ila may be employed as before. Another spacing ring II may be placed between the bezel Ila and the flange III), to prevent the needle shaft the bushing or hollow rivet II itself is made relatively long as indicated at III), to form a sufllcient bearing for the needle shaft. The pinion b, is secured to the shaft just to the rear ofthe member IIb and meshes with the gear segment Ilb, which may be identical with the gearsegment I! previously described. A light coiled spring 'IIb surrounds the hollow rivet IIb and has one end secured to the pinion III: while the other end is secured to the dial plate IIb,

the spring thus serving to eliminate backlash in the needle driving mechanism.

The diaphragm means in its preferred embodiment may be constructed as best shown in Figs. 12 and 13. The diaphragm means comprises a pressure responsive diaphragm III of relativelythin metal, preferably corrugated concentrically to render it more flexible, and a relatively stifl and unyielding guard plate III of substantially thicker metal, preferably correspondingly corrugated so that if the diaphragm III is subjected to excessive pressure, substantially the entire surface of the diaphragm may come into contact with the guard plate III and be supported thereby against rupture due to the excessivepressure. The operating stud above mentioned is secured to and projects forwardly from the front face of the diaphragm III at its center, and the guard plate III is provided with a central opening IIZthrough which the'stud It extends.

A gasket III is placed between the diaphragm III and the guard plate III adjacent their peripheries. This gasket is preferably of, a substantially incompressible material, and one of the principal'purposes of the gasket is to provide a sharp line of separation between the diaphragm and the guard plate, so that as the dia-* phraam moves back and forth under the influence of pressure variations the effective diameter of that part of the diaphragm which is subject to movement will remain constant so long as the diaphragm is not subjected to such excessive pressuresas will cause it to lieflat against the guard plate. Theperipheral edge of the diaphragm III may be, and preferably. is, bentinto cylindrical-shape to extend forwardly past the periphery of the guard plate III, as indicated at III, and then bent radially inwardly as at III, thus securely locking together the members III and III which constitute the diaphragm assembly or diaphragm meansf This diaphragm assembly is placed within the small cylindrical chamber formed by the cylindrical wall portion "of the casing, andseated against a gasket III which lies against the flange II and prevents the diaphragm assembly from moving in one direc- :-tion, that is. in a direction axially-backwards.

According to the present invention, novel and improved means is provided for holding the diaphragm assembly against movement in the opposite direction, that is in a direction axiailyforwardly. This improved holding means is formed by the method indicated diagrammatically in I Fig. 13 to which reference is now made.

After the diaphragm assembly'has been placed within the cylindrical wall portion 32, a tool III is alined concentrically with this cylindrical portion I2. The tool III has, around its entire periphery, a sharp annular cutting edge I II of a diameter slightly greater than the external diameter of the diaphragm assembly, or the internal diameter of the cylindrical wall portion 32. This tool III may constitute part of a press. The tool is then forced downwardly from the position shown in Fig. 13, so that the sharp cutting edge III thereof cuts into the metal of the wall 82 all the way'around the periphery of the diaphragm assembly and cuts, in effect, an annular slice from such metal, extending all the way around -the'periphery of the diaphragm assembly. The inclination of the lower surface I I2 of the tool causes this annular slice of metal to .be bent inwardly and downwardly upon or onto the pe riphery of the diaphragm assembly. as indicated .at III in Fig. 12. The portion III remains attached to and forms an integral part of the metal of the wall portion 32, and constitutes an excellent abutment or pressure resisting means for holding the diaphragm assembly properly seated in the casing and preventing forward movement thereof under the influence of pressure on the rear side of the diaphragm. The operation of cutting down the side walls 32 and bendngtheminwardly over the edge of the diaphragm may be conveniently referred to as a staking operation.

Frequently the integral flange or deformed portion III provides a sufllcient fluid tight seal around the periphery of the diaphragm assembly, but usually it is preferred to employ additional sealing means.' This is conveniently in the form of a body II5 oi solder, applied in a continuous annular body around theentire periphery of the diaphragm ass mbly, in 'a molten state, and usu ally to an extent sufficient to cover completely the flange H3 and extenda substantial distance axially outwardly along the wall 32 and radially my. It is also to be noted that the solder contacts directly with the portion Ill ofv the diaphragm not leak whether or not there is a perfect fluid tight joint between the periphery of the diaphragm Ill and the periphery of.the guard plate adapter sleeve is not used. The adapter sleeve Ill. a

An alternative form of diaphragm assembly construction is indicated in Fig. 14, in which the diaphragm is shown at Illa and the guard plate at Illa. Instead of using a.gasket Ill between the diaphragm and the guard plate in order to obtain constant working diameter of the diaphragm, the arrangement here employedis to extend the guard plate rearwardly at its periphery to form a cylindrical flange I25, the inner surface of which is substantially truly cylindrical for a material distance. The diaphragm Illa has a similar cylindrical flange Ill fltting within the flange Ill of the guard plate, and may ter minate in an annular radial flange Il'l spaced from the rear edge of the flange Ill by an interposed gasket Ill. The diaphragm Illa is so shaped that it curves away from and leaves the guard plate Illa at a point on the flange Ill where this flange is still truly cylindrical. Thus, notwithstanding flexing of the diaphragm, the effective diameter thereof does not vary, but always remains the same so long as the diaphragm is not subjected to such excessive pressures that it is actually made to lie against the guard plate.

A gasket Illa may be employed between the diaphragm flange I21 and the casing portion ll, and the whole diaphragm assembly may be fastened in place by a staking operation, which forms a flange Illa similar to the flange Ill above-mentioned. A sealing body Illa may be employed, corresponding to the sealing body Ill in the previous embodiment.

In Figure 15 of the drawings there is shown another embodiment similar in general to that indicated in Fig. 14. This embodiment includes a cylindrical flange Illb on the guard'plate Illb, and the diaphragm Illb has a cylindrical flange Illb fitting within the flange Illb. As before. the separation between the diaphragm and the guard plate occurs at a point where the flange Illb is cylindrical, so that axial movements of the diaphragm do not result in changes in the effective working diameter thereof.

As II'Ib the diaphragm is extended radially outwardly past the rear edge of the guard plate flange Illb and then at Illb the diaphragm is bent forwardly along the outer edge of the guard plate Illb, to a point where it will contact with the sealing body I Ilb. The advantage of this construction over'that shown in Fig. 14 is that the sealing body Iilb here contacts directly with the metal of the diaphragm itself and seals the diaphragm to the casing, irrespective of any leakage which might occur between the diaphragm and the guard plate. In the construction shown in Fig. 14, however, the sealing means Illa does not come directly into contact with the diaphragm Illa, and if the construction were somewhat defective, leakage might occur around the 'edge of the diaphragm and into the space between the diaphragm and the guard plate, after which the fluid could easily escape into the gauge through the opening ill in the guard plate.

In the preferred construction, an adapter sleeve Ill (Figs. 4 and 12) is flxed within the stem ll of the gauge, and within this sleeve is suitably fixed a second sleeve Ill having a bore th'rethrough. In the bore is a pressure fluetuation damping means of any suitable construction; The ends of the sleeve Ill are extended to form relatively thin bendable flanges Ill.

The sleeve Ill is preferably sealed tightly within the adapter sleeve Ill, if such a sleeve is employed, or tightly within the portion ll, ii an Ill,-when employed, is sealed tightly within the casing portion ll so that leakage cannot occur between these parts. The sleeve I may have a shoulder which lies against one side of an inwardly extending flange or rim I ll (Fig. 12) on the sleeve Ill. On the-other side of the flange Ill, the metal of the sleeve I is deformed outwardly as at I52, by an operation similar to the staking operation above mentioned. t clamp the sleeve IlI firmly within the sleeve Ill and to seal the connection against leakage.

Certain subject matter disclosed but not claimed herein is claimed in our copending patent applications, Serial No. 134,588, filed April 2. 1937, for Gauge damping construction, and Serial No. 135,758, filed April 8. 1937, for Gauge diaphragm mounting.

While certain embodiments of the invention have been disclosed, it is to be understood that the inventive idea may be carried out in a number of ways. This application is, therefore, not to be limited to the precise details described, but is intended to cover all variations and modifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

, i. A gauge comprising a hollow casing, a pivot member mounted in said casing, gear segment means mounted for oscillation on said pivot member, a dial plate, a gear mounted on said dial plate for meshing with said segment means, and means on said dial plate cooperating with said pivot member to locate said dial plate in predetermined position relatively to said pivot member to insure proper meshing of said gear with said segment means.

2. A gauge comprising a hollow casing, a pivot member mounted in said casing, gear segment means mounted for oscillation on said pivot member, a dial plate, a gear mounted on said dial plate for meshing with said segment means, and a hole in said dial plate for receiving said pivot member to locate said dial plate in predetermined position relatively to said pivot member to insure proper meshing of said gear with said segment means.

3. A gauge comprising a hollow casing, movable operating means within said casing, a mounting plate in said casing, a shaft journalled on said mounting plate, said shaft having one crank portion cooperating with and operated by said operating means and a second crank portion spaced therefrom, a stud secured to said mounting plate, gear means mounted for oscillation on said stud, said gear means having a portion cooperating with and moved by said second crank portion, other gear means meshing with and driven by said first mentioned gear means, and indicating means connected to and driven by saidother gear means.

4. A gauge comprising a hollow casing, a mounting plate within said casing, a stud mounted on said plate, a generally U-shaped member pivotally mounted on said stud, said U- shaped member having one arm extended to form a gear segment portion and having another arm provided with an ear, means contacting with said ear to move said U-shaped member, a dial plate, needle means mounted on said dial plate, and gear means mounted on said dial plate and operatively connected to said needle means and meshing with said gear segment portion to be moved thereby.

5. A gauge comprising a hollow casing having an annular wall, operating gear means within said casing, a stud mounted eccentrically in said casing in definite relation to said gear means, a carrying member mounted within said annular wall and having a limited range of lateral movement relatively thereto, a needle shaft extending through said member, a needle secured to said shaft on the outer side of said member, a pinion secured to said shaft on the inner side of said member and adapted to mesh with said operating gear means, means on said carrying member for engaging said stud to position said carrying member and said pinion in definite relation to said operating gear means in a direction along a diameter passing through said stud, and means on said carrying member for engaging said annular wall to hold said carrying member in definite relation to said casing in a direction transverse to said diameter.

6. A gauge comprising a hollow casing having a substantially circular annular wall, and a dial plate adapted to be placed within and be embraced by said annular wall, said dial plate having a periphery the major portion of which is shaped to be spaced inwardly from said annular wall, and also having a plurality of relatively small ears for engaging the inner surface of said annular wall at spaced points.

7. A gauge comprising a hollow casing having a substantially circular annular wall, and a dial plate adapted to be placed within and be embraced by said annular wall, said dial plate having a periphery the major portion of which is shaped to be spaced inwardly from said annular wall, and also having a plurality of relatively small ears for engaging the inner surface of said annular wall at spaced point, said ears initially extending outwardly to radial extents greater than the radius of said annular wall, and being of readily bendable material adapted to be bent up to lie within said annular wall when said dial plate is pressed forcibly into said casing.

8. A gauge comprising a casing, a pressure responsive diaphragm mounted therein, a guard plate mounted adjacent said diaphragm to limit motion thereof in one direction, said guard plate having a central aperture therein, a stud secured to said diaphragm and projecting through said aperture, gear segment means mounted in said casing for oscillation about an axis substantially removed from said stud, a shaft mounted in said casing, said shaft including two crank portions at a substantial angle to each other, one of said crank portions contacting with said stud to be moved thereby and the other of said crank portions contacting with said gear segment means to move said means, dial means secured to said casing, a needle movably mounted on said dial means, and a pinion also mounted on said dial means and operatively connected to said needle and meshing with said segment means to move said needle in response to movements of said gear segment means.

9. A gauge comprising a metal casing, a pressure responsive diaphragm mounted in said casing, a portion of said casing being deformed into overlying relation to said diaphragm to hold said diaphragm in place within said casing, a pivot member in said casing, gear segment means mounted for oscillation on said pivot member, means operatively connecting said gear segment means to said diaphragm to move said gear segment means in accordance with movements of said diaphragm, a dial plate, a gear mounted on said dial plate for meshing with said segment means, and means in said dial plate cooperating with said pivot member to locate said dial plate in predetermined position relative to said pivot member to insure proper meshing of said gear with said segment means.

10. A gauge comprising a hollow casing having a substantially circular annular wall, a pivot member mounted within said casing, gear segment means mounted for oscillation on said pivot member, a dial plate adapted to be placed within and.to be embraced by said annular wall, a gear mounted on said dial plate for meshing with said segment means, said dial plate having a periphery the major portion of which is shaped to be spaced inwardly from said annular wall and having a hole in said dial plate for receiving said pivot member to lock said dial plate in predetermined position relative to said pivot member to insure proper meshing of said gear with said segment means, and a plurality of relatively small ears on the periphery of said dial plate for engaging the inner surface of said annular wall at spaced points, to hold said dial plate against lateral shifting with respect to said annular wall when said dial plate has been properly impaled on said pivot member.

HERBERT HASTINGS.

GEORGE E. FORD. 

